Undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39) barely broke a sweat as he dropped and dominated former undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo 35-2-1 (19) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
The 33-year-old Mexican superstar controlled the fight, sending Charlo to the canvas in the seventh and running away a wide points winner by scores of 119-108 and 118-109 twice.
Criticism has been leveled at Texan Charlo, 33, for boxing to survive rather than win. But plaudits have to be given to Alvarez for making his opponent look second rate.
Retired multi-weight world champion and International Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr dipped his lid to Alvarez.
“Canelo had a great performance,” Jones said. “He showed us that he’s back. He’s back with a purpose.
“A lot of people wrote him off but he’s not ready to be written off yet. Canelo showed that he’s still one of the elite fighters in the 168 division.”
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman offered his assessment of the fight.
“Canelo made a great fighter look ordinary,” Sulaiman said. “The masterful, maestro dominance was tremendous. He willed, exerted and imposed himself against Jermell Charlo and it was impressive.
“From the moment the first bell rang, he brought to bear constant pressure and connected from round one, with accurate power punches to the arms, body and the head, forcing Jermell to mill on the retreat, obliging him to be reactive, rather than proactive.
“The man from Guadalajara dominated the ring on Saturday with fine boxing, ruthlessly cutting off the ring and thwarting attempts at the classic style by his American rival, who he put under intense and unremitting pressure.”
Charlo took a knee in the seventh round when he was caught on the ropes and hit with a flush right hand on the chin. It was just the second time he had been down in his 38 fight pro career.
“Charlo visited the canvas in the seventh round taking a knee, after receiving an overhand right to the temple and an uppercut, which would have finished a lesser man,” Sulaiman said.
“He took a long deep breath, adjusted his trunks, got up and bravely fought on, trying as he might to weather a hailstorm raining down on him.
“Canelo’s intense tempo and fabulous condition are a testament to his exceptional preparation, which was extraordinary.
“His trainer Eddy Reynoso must be recognised and praised for this dramatic improvement transition, by demandingly taking Canelo Alvarez out of the comfort zone and insisting the champion go the extra mile. The camp was far away from home, the golf bag was of course discarded, so the complete focus and total concentration was on the fight.
“Goals were sought, reached and surpassed. During the action, Canelo stood his ground and didn’t sit down during the rest minute of any round. It was a crystal-clear message he was going to accomplish a feat of distinction against another undisputed champion in this uniquely historic fight.”
